We, the undersigned residents of the Friern Barnet area, are hereby petitioning Barnet Council not to take away our only asset of public service, Friern Barnet Library. While the Tally Ho Arts Depot is still local to North Finchley Library users (only 2 bus stops away from the present site), it is about 6 stops away from Friern Barnet Library. Public transport is expensive, inconvenient and slow in ever increasing traffic. It means that a weekly, for some of us even daily drop-in to our friendly local library will turn into an infrequent, only absolutely necessary, cumbersome expedition. There are among us young families, who moved into the area quite recently, who chose this particular area for the proximity of the library. There is an increasing number of young jobseekers, who benefit from free library PC use to look for employment and apply for financial help. And there are the elderly and disabled, who can just about make the short distance to their local library. This is a very homely library. Some of us have been its members for decades. It is the hub of our community and the only place in the area where we can spend quality time for free. Friern Barnet Library in its present place and shape is an integral part of our life. It serves a wider and deeper purpose than just lending media: for many it provides an escape from loneliness, sometimes just from bad weather and cold. Of all Barnet’s libraries this is the most welcoming building with a soul. And this is how we wish to keep it: local with community spirit. We don’t want a pie in the sky- “Landmark” library far away, but a cosy cheerful Local library. Please don’t take it away from us to show that you really are Putting the community first …